| If you're looking for a fun, educational and | | | | Five is about the right age. My daughter didn't try |
| entertaining hobby to start your children out on, | | | | to eat the beads, she was nimble and dexterous |
| try making beaded jewelry. Stringing glass or | | | | enough to pick them up and string them, and she |
| stone beads for necklaces may sound simple, but | | | | was imaginative enough to make some of the |
| kids love it, and it will build a life-time hobby for | | | | most creative and funky designs I'd seen. In fact, |
| them. | | | | we put many of her pieces up for sale and they |
| My own daughter (five) was sitting around the | | | | sold—often before mine! |
| house the other day, completely bored. Her toys | | | | Bracelets are usually the easiest things for kids to |
| were all played with, she'd watched her share of | | | | make, because they are obviously shorter, |
| TV for the day, and she'd run out of things to do | | | | they're less likely to make children bored or |
| as only a child can. | | | | frustrated, and they take less material to make. |
| "I'm bored!" she tells me, sighing heavily and | | | | Start out by just letting your kids experiment |
| blowing her hair from her face. | | | | with different sizes, shapes and colors. Help them |
| That was the moment that things changed | | | | find color spectrums that they like. Show them |
| between us, because that was the moment I | | | | how graduated beads can balance bracelets and |
| pulled out my bead box. | | | | necklaces by creating a 'center.' |
| I've been making bead jewelry for years, so my | | | | The best beads to use are obviously the larger |
| stockpile of beads has grown pretty big. I got into | | | | sizes, at least 6mm or larger. Anything less than |
| it about seven years ago when I needed a hobby | | | | 6mm will be just a bit too small for them to pick |
| (I guess you could say I got bored too!), and | | | | up and string. I preferred glass myself, and I think |
| wanted to find a way to make a little extra | | | | it's probably the best for kids too, simply because |
| money. I started out making necklaces, earrings | | | | of the lower price and the immense variety of |
| and bracelets out of semi-precious stone beads, | | | | colors and shapes. |
| like green malachite or lapis lazuli. | | | | As for what type of string to use, I'd |
| But in the past couple of years I've found that I | | | | recommend a bead string or some type that can |
| sell more jewelry (and make more) by using glass | | | | be knotted around the clasp (probably by you). |
| beads instead, particularly Chinese or India glass. | | | | The alternative is beading wire, which needs crimp |
| So my supply of that type was huge (we're | | | | beads and pliers. |
| talking bags of it)! | | | | My daughter has gotten so good at making |
| Needless to say Tracy's eyes twinkled when | | | | jewelry in such a short time. She's now making |
| gazing over the glittering, glistening mounds of | | | | presents for family members and friends, and |
| glass. She immediately fell in love with the | | | | stashing away her earnings from the sales at our |
| different bright colors of the India glass and the | | | | table at the local farmer's market. I don't know |
| sparkling facets from the cut Chinese crystal | | | | where her new hobby will take her, but at least |
| beads. | | | | for now she's not bored anymore! |